Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Cleco Power [Member]
Current assets [Abstract]
Customer accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 3,957	$ 2,674
Successor [Member]
Current assets [Abstract]
Customer accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 3,957
Predecessor [Member]
Current assets [Abstract]
Customer accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts		$ 2,674
Member's equity/Common shareholders’ equity [Abstract]
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)		$ 1
Common stock, authorized (in shares)		100,000,000
Common stock, issued (in shares)		61,058,918
Common stock, outstanding (in shares)		60,482,468
Treasury stock, at cost (in shares)		576,450
Premium on common stock		$ 418,500
Common Stock, Value, Issued		61,100
Treasury Stock, Value		$ 23,200